Christmas and the end of the year is upon us once again.   Where does the time go?     

 2009 has been very good to us.    Rowan has continued to grow up strong and smart, Jessica is “with child” again, and I am just thankful for my family and the blessings God has given us this year.    While indeed we are in the cold and dark months of the year, I cannot help but feel renewed and ready to tackle the challenges 2010.   

We’ve been lucky to have Jessica’s sister Amanda in town since May.   She’s had quite the adventure in Evansville, and I hope when she leaves for grad school she remembers her year in Evansville fondly.    She’s been great to have around, and am glad she’s gotten to spend lots of time with Rowan.

 Nanny and Pawpaw made numerous trips to Evansville to visit, and we are glad they are willing to visit as often as they do.   We enjoyed some trips to Rochester as well, and Rowan got to take a few more boat rides.    We are excited to see what the future holds for them as they ponder a move to southern Indiana.    

We’ve also made numerous trips to Tell City to visit my family.   Rowan loves all of his cousins – Tristan, Kaden, Riley, and Ethan – and can’t wait to see them over the holidays.   He said he might share some of his new toys with them….  MIGHT!

Work this year has been crazy to say the least.   While busy and sometimes overwelmed, I’ve gotten into the grove here at the college and feel like I’ve found a home.   USI is my alma mater (and Jessica’s too) and I have a lot of love for what I do at this institution and the students I serve.   It had been a long time since I’ve felt like I am doing meaningful work, and it makes it a joy to come to work every day.

I  took the first steps towards earning my graduate degree, a Master of Public Administration, this year.   I have to admit that the subject matter is boring beyond belief and the work painful at times.    Graduate level work is certainly more challenging than undergraduate, and I was a bit shocked how busy one class kept me for the past 15 weeks.  I have another class in the spring, and hope it will be more interesting.  

We are also very excited for the new additions of our family and friends.    Jessica’s cousin Jyl and her husband Ryan welcomed their second child, Logan.   Our friends Mike and Salina had their first child, Claire, just this last week.   We just recently found out our friends Elizabeth and Jon are expecting in 2010 as well!   It is always fun to see our friends and loved ones expanding their families and experiencing the joys of parenthood.    

2009 has been a year of learning for us, as Rowan has transistioned from an infant to a full blown walking and talking toddler.     Jessica and I cuddled up on the couch for a moment after Rowan went to sleep a few nights ago and talked about the past few years.    We’d been looking at some new pics of Claire on Salina’s  Facebook, so we pulled up some old pictures of Rowan at the same age of a few days old.   We were in disbelief how much he has grown!   Of course Rowan was 3 pounds heavier and 2 inches longer than Claire, but he was still a newborn, and very precious and vulnerable to the elements of the world.  it is amazing how quickly he has grown up, and look forward to him amazing us even more in the next year. 

So yes, very much to be thankful for this Christmas.   We wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and we pray that everyone is safe, and most importantly, healthy,  in the new year.   We look forward to another crazy year, and hope you continue to follow us.

I never got a reply from McDonald’s going any farther than the original “we’ll forward it to the appropriate party” email.  So, I decided to reply.  Nothing to lose, right?  Well, I couldn’t directly reply, because of the incredibly blunt “No ‘replies’ can be received through this mailbox. If you wish to contact McDonald’s Customer Response Center again, please visit our website at www.mcdonalds.com” part of their email.  So, back to the McWebform I went!  I even included the fancy ref#:6502666.

Well, it apparently worked!

From: McDonalds.CustomerCare@us.mcd.com
To: me@my.email.address
Sent: Wed, December 9, 2009 5:09:19 AM
Subject: Message from McDonald’s USA

Hello Eric:

Thank you for taking the time to re-contact McDonald’s Customer Service Center. I’m sorry you have not yet received a local response regarding your recent McDonald’s restaurant experience.

Please know we take your comments very seriously. I will immediately re-contact the franchise owner of the restaurant you visited and request that he or she follow-up with you as soon as possible.

Please be assured your complete satisfaction is our top priority. Thank you for your patience and for taking the time to re-contact McDonald’s Customer Service Center.

Jimelle
McDonald’s Customer Response Center

ref#:6521333

————————————————————————————————————–

Please do not “reply” to this email response. No “replies” can be received through this mailbox. If you wish to contact McDonald’s Customer Response Center again, please visit our website at www.mcdonalds.com

————————————————————————————————————–

Are you finished with your holiday shopping? Even the person with everything gets hungry. An Arch Card makes a great holiday gift. For more information visit your local McDonald’s restaurant or our website at http://www.mcdonalds.com/archcard.

You wrote:

Hello,

Regarding my last message from Ashley at McDonald’s customer service… ref#:6502666

I was told not to reply to the email… hopefully that reference # can refer you to my earlier message.

I think it’s a very poor setup that you have… not being able to reply to emails.

Your message to me said “Because most McDonald’s restaurants are independently owned and operated, I have forwarded your comments to the franchise owner or local representative for follow up at the restaurant you visited. Please be assured that your comments will be investigated and, if appropriate, corrective action will be taken.

Secondly, although we did not completely meet your expectations, please know that our restaurant employees strive to maintain the highest standards of quality, service, cleanliness and value and it’s certainly nice to know that their efforts are appreciated. We want to recognize your complimentary comments and thank you for your kind words.“

Was anyone at that McDonald’s contacted?

Will I get a reply?

And, then, it was followed up by this…

From: Sandra Jaeger sandra.jaeger@gmail.com
To: me@my.email.address
Sent: Wed, December 9, 2009 7:07:00 PM
Subject: Fwd: Follow up of e-mail for the West Liberty Avenue Restaurant

From: Sandra Jaeger sandra.jaeger@gmail.com
Date: Wed, Dec 9, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Subject: Follow up of e-mail for the West Liberty Avenue Restaurant
To: [complete@misspelling.of.my.email.address]
Dear Eric

I am the Customer Service Representative of the West Liberty Avenue Restaurant. I unfortunately did not receive your first e-mail.  Please fill me in on the situation.   I am located in the Pittsburgh area and will address all issues to the supervisors of this restaurant.

Sincerely,

Sandra Jaeger

How cool is that?  Ha ha ha.  An actual response!  Funny that it “didn’t get through” the first time.  Very funny.  Also funny that it went to a complete misspelling of my email address, those of you who have it will find it amusing.  There was a “.” where a “_” should be as well, as a few incorrect letters.  (Not transposed, incorrect.)

So, of course, I had to write back…

From: me@my.email.address
To: Sandra Jaeger sandra.jaeger@gmail.com
Sent: Wed, December 9, 2009 10:00:58 PM
Subject: Re: Fwd: Follow up of e-mail for the West Liberty Avenue Restaurant

Hello Sandra,

Thanks you for the reply!  I have always wondered if the emails that you get in reply to webforms at sites like the McDonald’s one are anything more than a standard form letter.  In reply to my first message, the response said “I have forwarded your comments to the franchise owner or local representative for follow up at the restaurant you visited.”  I had wondered if this really was the case…  Apparently not, until I took the time to reply with a second message asking if it had really gone any further.  I’m glad I took the time to follow up!

I  find it amusing that my original comments did not make it to you.  It makes me wonder how many emails remain unanswered daily when filtered through the McWebform.  This is not your problem though, as you are obviously concerned and addressing this issue now.

My original comments were regarding a visit that I had over a week ago now, in an evening stop at the McDonald’s on West Liberty Ave. in Beechview or Dormont or whatever the neighborhood may be there.

My original message was…

The crew in the place tonight seemed to be operating well, were friendly, and quickly as far as the food was concerned, but the parking lot was full of cars for the bar next door, and the men’s bathroom was disgusting.  Please see this link for a review & photos: http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/23/1346713/restaurant/Far-South-South-Hills/McDonalds-Pittsburgh

That pointed to a review that I posted on UrbanSpoon.com, which you can read here…

“Sadly, had the best service there tonight in years…” by ERiC AiXeLsyD (98 reviews)

November 29, 2009 – Doesn’t like it – Small crew tonight, decent night-time crowd, stopped for a late dinner, was served relatively quickly… fries were a perfect golden color and hot… burgers were OK, super-greasy but it IS McDonald’s. We were out at an event earlier, on the way home… had to use the facilities… but they were trashed. Stall #1 had no TP dispenser, the roll was on the back of the commode, and the bowl was chock full of the stuff. Stall #2 had a broken doorknob/lock mechanism. One hand dryer was stuck on, the other didn’t work, and both urinals were full of urine. I know they can’t control flushing… but periodic checks/cleanings and some repairs might be in order.  Just when I thought this place had their stuff together for once… My advice? When stopping here, use the facilities somewhere else. 1 person likes this review

…and these are the photos referenced:

I understand that the fact that at that time of night, there’s perhaps a smaller than usual crew, and that the West Liberty Ave. location is seemingly always busy.  I have been through the drive-thru at this time of night before, and it always seems slow, though it’s thankfully not as slow as the Wendy’s right down the street.  Those people have a whole different set of issues.  My friends and I call it “The Slow Wendy’s”.

I was just wondering what kind of cleaning & maintenance policies that you have in place?  Does management or ownership do any kind of inspection or follow-up?  Do inspections my the corporation ever occur?  I mean, surely you can’t think the photos above are an acceptable presentation of your restaurant chain?

I don’t know about you, but when I “gotta go”, it’s urgent!  The urinals looked filthy, si I opted for the stalls… one was stuffed, and one had a door that wouldn’t close.  I like to do my business in private, no interruptions.  Closing doors are a good thing!  Also… the lack of a TP dispenser, & the roll just being on the back of the thing…  I cannot imagine what would have happened had I needed to use that.  I mean, how uncomfortable would it be to reach behind yourself like that after…  Well, after doing your thing?

Thank you for your time, and the follow up.  I appreciate the fact that you took the time to inquire about the issue.

Sincerely,
-Eric

Maybe I should have included a link to the Wendy’s incident?  Not yet, my friends.  Not yet. I can’t wait to see what kind of response I get this time.  I love when it gets down to a real live person in charge of something.

Ha, I have #1 on this list from Listverse:  Top 10 Bathroom Reads

It’s quite interesting & hilarious.  Here’s an excerpt…

I’m gonna have to pick up #8, or ask the wife to get it for me for Christmas or my Birthday… ha ha ha.  I love it based on it’s tag-line… “How America is Shaped by its Grossest National Product” – Genius!

I am disappointed however, that the standard by which all bathroom-reading material should be held was sadly absent form the list.  What about Uncle John?  I have nearly all of their books, and can’t wait until the new ones come out!  I was even recently duped into buying an Armchair Reader instead of the Bathroom Reader that was not by Uncle John or the BRI.  They’re not written nearly as well, nor are they as informative… yet the covers look eerily similar.

By the way, with all this talk of poop… watch out for El Caganer this year!

Jamie Campbell Bower as Number 11-12 in The Prisoner. Photo copyright of Granada/AMC

Imagine having a life where pretty much everything you want is within easy reach and all you have to do is ask for it. In AMC’s re-imagined version of The Prisoner, Number 11-12 wakes up to that every day as a resident of The Village. The son of Number Two, the overseer of this residential “paradise,” and M2, his idealistic mother, this 17-year-old is among the privileged and is being groomed to one day take over his father’s duties within The Village. It sounds like the perfect situation, maybe not for 11-12, but it was one that actor Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays 11-12, could not wait to jump into.

“There had been rumors of The Prisoner floating about, and then I got a phone call from my agent telling me, ‘I think you should go out for this.’ He’s rarely wrong, so I did,” recalls Bower. “I received four pages of audition sides from one of the episodes, and as I read them something really struck home with me. There was just something quite moving about the material and this idea of family and the connection between 11-12 and his father, Two, played by Ian McKellen.

“So I was very excited about the project to begin with, and it was, I think, a rainy Tuesday afternoon when I went down to London’s South Bank next to the Thames for my audition. Whatever I did must have worked because I received another call telling me that I got the role, which was brilliant.”

11-12 with his father, Number Two (Ian McKellen). Photo copyright of Granada/AMC

While a life of privilege may sound enticing to some, especially a young person, it is rarely all that is cracked up to be. And as typically happens, no one seems to have asked 11-12 what he wants.

“With my character, it’s that classic case of, ‘I don’t want to be the prince any more. I want to be an ordinary person,” says Bower. “But then he also thinks that one day he might inherit The Village, so like most people his age, 11-12 is definitely feeling some angst towards his father. As for his relationship with his mother, M2 [Rachael Blake], it’s very distant. He loves her dearly, but he never sees her. His mother is just this entity in the house they live in, and 11-12 strives to have a much closer bond with her.

“So as you might imagine, 11-12 is quite highly strung and emotionally charged. He also has this feeling that he’s missing something in his life, but he doesn’t know what it is. Acting-wise, maintaining that high level of intensity and emotion wasn’t easy. In fact,there was one particular scene that I did with Vincent Regan [Number 909] that screws up my character in a major way. We shot it over an entire day and I had to be incredibly emotional most of that time. Again, it was tough, but it was also a challenge and one I enjoyed because it really helped me to grow as a person as well as an actor.”

Not a good day in The Village for 11-12. Photo copyright of Granada/AMC

Much to his surprise, a frustrated 11-12’s eyes are opened to an entirely new set of possibilities for his future, thanks to The Village’s newest resident and The Prisoner’s lead character, Number Six (Jim Caviezel). “Six’s arrival throws a bit of a spanner into the works of The Village,” notes Bower. “He comes along and forthrightly and outwardly says, ‘This isn’t all there is’ and 11-12’s reaction to that is, ‘Well, maybe he’s right.’ So his interaction with Six is one of curiosity as well as questioning and trying to understand why it is that this man is saying what he’s saying. And I think 11-12 ends up believing in and trusting Six.”

While their onscreen personas are caught up in the turmoil of what is happening to them, The Prisoner’s cast as well as crew could not have enjoyed their time together more, Bower included. “Everyone involved in this project is incredibly talented and fun,” enthuses the actor. “Working with Ian McKellen is an absolute joy and a pleasure. The same is true of working with young British stars like Hayley Atwell [Lucy/4-15] and Ruth Wilson [Number 313]. We all became good mates and helped each other out, patted one another on the back when we needed it, and laughed at each other when we didn’t need it,” he jokes. “We spent four-and-a-half months together in South Africa. Not many people can say that, apart from those who live there, and we had a really nice time.”

Bower was 14 when he decided that he wanted to become an actor, and four years later made his feature film debut in director Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. “I had just turned 18 and was at boarding school in the English countryside,” he says. “I was sneaking out at five o’clock in the morning through my house master’s backdoor and getting into a car that was waiting for me outside the school gates to take me to set. I’d then return to school around seven at night and go back to bed.

11-12 shares a rare moment with his mother, M2 (Rachael Blake). Photo copyright of Granada/AMC

“I did that for about two weeks and then I made the decision that I should probably just leave school and not bum a free bed off them every night. So that’s what I did, and it was an incredibly terrifying experience for me, being just 18 and working alongside people like Tim Burton as well as Johnny Depp, Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall. It was also a phenomenal opportunity and it gave me such an amazing starting point that I could never have dreamt of, so I was very, very lucky.”

Besides The Prisoner, Bower can also currently be seen as Caius in the latest installment of the hugely successful teenage vampire tale The Twilight Saga: New Moon. “I was in Los Angeles not too long ago and they were casting for New Moon,” says the actor. “My American agent asked me if I would like to audition for it, and I said that I’d kill to audition for it. So I met with [director] Chris Weitz and then I got a call offering me the role of Caius, which I was really excited about.

“Caius, along with Michael Sheen’s character of Ar0, and Marcus,who is played by Chris Heyerdahl, are the leaders of an ancient Italian vampire coven known as the Volturi. We shot in Vancouver and I was there for about three weeks working with actors like Michael, Chris, Dakota Fanning [Jane], Rob Pattinson [Edward Cullen] and Kris Stewart [Bella Swan]. It was a real treasure of a role for me and another great set of actors to work with and learn from.”

Change is in the air when 11-12 crosses paths with Number Six (Jim Caviezel). Photo copyright of Granada/AMC

The actor has a lead role alongside Keira Knightley and Colin Farrell in the upcoming film London Boulevard and has guest-starred in an episode of the new British Fantasy TV series Game of Thrones. Harry Potter fans can also look forward to enjoying Bower’s performance in the two-part Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

“I play Gellert Grindelwald, who’s an old friend of Dumbledore’s [Michael Gambon],” he says. “They have this idea that they can create a utopian wizardry world, and then there’s a big fight and something awful happens,” teases the actor.

“So it was another fun project, and ‘fun’ is one of the things about this job that’s important to me. I hope I can continue doing this up until the point that it isn’t fun any more. That’s when people become jaded and become the person that they never wanted to be. I think growing as an actor and a performer is a wonderful thing to behold, and feeling like you’re learning as well. That’s especially important for young actors like myself who have chosen a different path. We haven’t gone to university, but, instead, have decided that acting is what we want to do, and as long as you’re learning while doing it, then I think that’s the main thing that will keep you happy.”

Steve Eramo

The Prisoner concludes tonight, Tuesday, November 17th @ 8 p.m. EST/PST.

As noted above, all photos copyright of Granada TV and AMC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Number 147 (Lennie James) and his wife, 21-16 (Renate Stuurman) in The Prisoner. Photo copyright of Granada/AMC

When some people arrive in a new city or town, one of the first things they do is jump into a taxi. After all, the person behind that wheel knows all there is to know about the local main streets and back roads, right? Nowhere is that perhaps more important than in AMC’s six-part miniseries The Prisoner. As a cab driver in The Village, Number 147 is the one to seek out when looking to go from A to B in this exclusive community. There is so much more to him, though, than just his driving skills, as actor Lennie James, who plays 147, explains.

“At the start of our story, my character is absolutely content and accepting of the rules of The Village in which he lives,” says James. “He is a guy who will gladly tell you what you can and cannot say, where you can and cannot go, and what you can and cannot do. And within the confines of The Village, this man has found complete happiness with his wife [12-16. played by Renate Stuurman] and their child. 147 can’t believe how lucky he is to not just love his wife, but have his wife love him and then bless him with a child.

“In some ways it was a challenge to play a guy who is so content, but what I enjoyed most about the role was playing someone who really has no knowledge of his potential. 147 has no sense of what he can and cannot do, and from early on in the six episodes, is a man who constantly surprises himself.”

The original 60s Prisoner series focused on an ex-Secret Service agent (Patrick McGoohan) who wakes up in a remote seaside locale called The Village. His name has been replaced by a number, Six, and those in charge are intent on finding out the truth about why he resigned from his job. This re-imagined version of the program has its own Number Six (Jim Caviezel), who, like his predecessor, has a profound impact on certain villagers that he meets, including James’ 147.

“Besides 147’s wife and child, my character’s other main relationship is with Number Six,” notes the actor. “When Six arrives in The Village, 147 acts as his guide in more ways than one, and his relationship with Six becomes, literally, life-changing. It changes everything about what he thought his life was and what he comes to realize his life could be. It’s all due to the chance meeting, really, of Six getting into 147’s taxi as opposed to 135’s as it were.”

Keeping an eye on everyone in The Village, especially Six, is Number Two (Ian McKellen). Like his fellow villagers, he makes use of the local taxis, and at one point calls upon 147’s services. “One of the scenes I really enjoyed shooting is one with myself and Ian McKellen, where his character is in the backseat of my character’s taxi,” recalls James. “The whole thing is played through the rearview mirror, and technically it was tricky because you have to look as if you’re not looking at each other. Our two characters communicate exclusively through that mirror and have quite a bit to say to one another. I loved doing that scene, not only because I loved working with Ian, but also because of what was going on in it, which was something worthwhile.”

The Italianate resort village of Portmerion in Gwynedd on the coast of Snowdonia in Wales served as the setting for the original Prisoner. Going for a very different type of look, the producers of the 2009 remake chose to have James along with the rest of the miniseries’ cast and crew shoot in South Africa.

“The location was absolutely fantastic for the story, but it did hold some challenges for us as a cast and crew,” says the actor. “We filmed all our exteriors in a place called Swakopmund, a turn of the century village where the desert meets the sea in Namibia. As Portmerion was in the original Prisoner, this place was very much an extra character that gave the miniseries a particular type of feel.

“Swakopmund is a holiday destination, mostly for Germans, but when we were there it wasn’t holiday season, so we were shooting in a sort of ghost town. There were a lot of empty houses and empty streets, all of which certainly added to our head space as far as playing the villagers. Again, though, there were times where everybody just felt like they were a long way from home.”

How familiar was the actor with Patrick McGoohan’s incarnation of The Prisoner before he began working on this version? “I’m not old enough to have seen the series when it was first broadcast, but it was on a loop, it seems, during my childhood,” he explains. “So I was very aware of it and must have seen, if not all the episodes, most of them at various times while growing up.

Number 147 finds his life of contentment in The Village turned upside-down. Photo copyright of Granada/AMC

“I didn’t go back and revisit the series for this production, though, because Bill Gallagher’s [miniseries writer] scripts were so specific as well as different and I didn’t want to put anything in the way of that.”

Born in Nottingham, England and having spent many of his younger years in South London, James once dreamt of giving a very different type of performance in front of an audience. “Like most English boys, I wanted to be a rugby player,” says the actor. “When I was growing up, rugby wasn’t a professional sport, but it was something that I wanted to play at the highest level I could. However, when I realized that I wasn’t good enough, and before acting came into my life, I wanted to at least pursue a career that was sports oriented, such as a physiotherapist or occupational therapist.

“As far as acting, I actually followed a girl who I really fancied into an audition. She wanted to be an actress and the director said I couldn’t stay in the room unless I auditioned.  So I did and I got offered a role.”

A Raisin in the Sun, Two Gentlemen of Verona and Macbeth are among James’ theater credits, while on the big screen he has starred in such films as Outlaw, Sahara, Snatch and Les miserables. On TV, the actor has appeared in several made-for-TV movies as well as guest-starred in shows on both sides of the pond including A Touch of Frost, Cold Feet, Spooks, Lie to Me and Three Rivers. James is probably best known for his regular roles in the British series Out of the Blue and the apocalyptic U.S. drama Jericho.

“Out of the Blue was an ensemble cop show and I loved it,” he enthuses. “It was one of my first big jobs and the first time I worked with Bill Gallagher. We did two seasons of it and, as I’m going to go on to talk about Jericho, one of the things both shows have in common is that they ended, I think, before their time. I’m guessing that whoever made those decisions, in retrospect, probably wouldn’t have done the same thing again.

“My character in Out of the Blue was a guy called Bruce Hannaford, who was kind of an uptight detective and a perpetual bachelor who dressed well and had a rather inflated opinion of himself. It was a great part to play in amongst a terrific cast including John Hannah [D.S. Frank Drinkall], Neil Dudgeon [D.C. Marty Brazil] and John Duttine [D. I. Eric Temple]. I had a wonderful time doing the series and made some very good friends along the way. The same can be said for Jericho, which was, again, a gift of a part for me, in amongst some fantastic actors.”

Of all James’ roles, The Prisoner was one of his easiest to have booked. “The part was pretty much offered to me,” says the actor. “I met with the people I would be working with just to see whether or not we were on the same page, and we were. As I mentioned, I worked with Bill Gallagher before, so it was one of those really nice audition processes where your prior work is taken into consideration and people are gracious enough to offer you the role and not ask you to jump through too many hoops.”

With some people in the entertainment industry, making sure they are always in the public eye is the definition of having a successful career. James, however, is among those who prefer to take a more down-to-earth approach to the profession.

“For me, it’s about the job,” he says. “These days there is a generation of actors, some of whom seem to be getting into the business for the perks as opposed to the actual work. I very much enjoy the moments between the director calling, ‘Action,’ and, ‘Cut,’ when you’re making the [acting] choices. And the actors who I admire and aspire to be like are those who enjoy that, too, and for who fame and celebrity are by-products and not the aim.

“I truly love what I do and feel blessed that I’ve been allowed to continue doing it for the past 20 or so years.”

Steve Eramo

The Prisoner continues tonight, Monday, November 16th @ 8 p.m. EST/PST and concludes at the same time on Tuesday, the 17th. Watch for an interview with Jamie Campbell-Bower (11-12).

As noted above, all photos copyright of Granada TV and AMC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Ruth Wilson plays the beautiful and troubled Number 313 in The Prisoner. Photo copyright of Granada/AMC

IN early 2006, Ruth Wilson exploded onto the scene by winning the title role in the BBC’s major new adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre - her first job out of drama school. She went on to gain a BAFTA TV nomination for Best Actress in 2007 and was also brought to the attention of Hollywood with a Best Actress nomination at the Golden Globe Awards. Suddenly labeled as the new “British bright young thing,” the actress next appeared onstage in Maxim Gorky’s The Philistines at the National Theatre in London. This was followed by playing the leads in two critically acclaimed feature films, Capturing Mary, in which Wilson appeared opposite Dame Maggie Smith and David Williams, and A Real Summer, written specifically for the actress and which she performed alone as a monologue.

In The Prisoner, Wilson plays Number 313, a doctor who plays a key role in the day-to-day running of The Village. The following is an AMC Q & A with the actress about her involvement in the miniseries.

Who is 313?

Ruth Wilson – She is a strange figure, a doctor in The Village. She initially meets Six [Jim Caviezel] in Club More – at that point,you have no idea who she is. She next appears in the hospital where Six is waking up, and gradually the relationship between him and 313 grows. She is always there, always around. She has been assigned to look after him by Two [Sir Ian McKellen]. It is part of her job and she doesn’t think much of it. It is only when she is talking to Six, and he starts making her question herself, that all her doubts about living in The Village are exposed. The women in this version are more interesting than the rather two-dimensional characters in the original The Prisoner. 313 is real; she is always changing and has no secrets.

What attracted you to the role?

RW – I find her fascinating to play every scene – there are so many unsaid things going on. Each scene I have to play for the scene. She has a sophisticated, neat, intelligent look. She is a clever woman, but is tortured by everything she has to do. 313 is someone who is pivotal to the way The Village works and fundamental to making it work successfully. She is overcome with guilt. I’ve tried to play her real. In Episode One, she has to build up a relationship with Six to get him to open up to her. She is not as she seems.

Numbers Six (Jim Caviezel) and 313. Photo copyright of Granada/AMC

What is her relationship with Six?

RW – They have the same doubts and the same questions. She becomes his confidant. In Episode Three you find out that 313 is a dreamer – she dreams of another place which, in The Village, is a crime and she is forced to deny this. She can’t help being drawn to Six. It is the same with Two – she is drawn to him. In the earlier episodes, she has grown closer to Six and found out how dangerous he is. He has made her dangerous to herself, and she is struggling to hold on to who she is in The Village. She has to obey Two otherwise she will suffer the consequences. She almost has to make a choice between The Village and Six.

Describe 313 as a dreamer?

RW – As a dreamer, she becomes more and more tortured by her dreams. She can’t work out what they are and they keep coming back to her. She’s like an outcast – someone who is secretly hiding who they are. [In latter episodes], she becomes more honest and finds out who she really is. Two makes her face her dreams and nightmares.

How did you find working with Ian McKellen?

RW – It’s great working with Ian because there is a real playfulness that he has. His character is the baddie, but he has loads of depth. Two abuses 313 and manipulates her, but she is drawn to him as a father figure. She opens up to him.

Number 313 on-call in The Village. Photo copyright of Granada/AMC

The Prisoner debuts with two episodes on Sunday, November 15th @ 8 p.m. EST/PST and continues at the same time on Monday, the 16th and Tuesday, the 17th. Watch for more Q & As as well as cast interviews as the week goes on.

As noted above, all photos copyright of Granada TV and AMC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Jim Caviezel stars as Number Six in AMC's re-imagined version of the classic British TV series The Prisoner. Photo copyright of Granada/AMC

AFTER a rather itinerant life, working in all manner of jobs – from window cleaner to welder – Bill Gallagher studied at the University of East Anglia, under Malcolm Bradbury and Rose Tremain. Subsequently, he taught drama and dramatic writing at the university before becoming a fulltime writer. His first stage play, Darkle, won The Sunday Times Playwriting Award.

Raised in the ship-building community of Newcastle, Bill now lives in Norfolk and has two children. With a passion for television drama, his credits include Maigret, Clocking Off, Hero of the Hour, Out of the Blue, Moving Story, Conviction, Four Fathers and Lark Rise to Candleford. Bill is the winner of Trik Awards and Monte Carlo Awards, and has been nominated for BAFTAs and Royal Television Society Awards. As a young boy, Bill saw The Prisoner during its original broadcast and was mesmerized by it, without understanding why. It has since haunted him in many ways that few dramas have. The following is a brief AMC Q & A with the writer.

How did you get involved with the re-imagining of The Prisoner?

Bill Gallagher – I had a phone call from Granada Television. It was such a surprising call…and I found myself having this bizarre conversation about reworking The Prisoner. I knew immediately I wanted to do it. I won’t claim to have been a longtime fan of the original series, but I had seen it once as a boy. It had such an impact on me. It was so strange and so unfathomable. It disturbed me like no other TV show. That stayed with me for a long time. That all came back to me, so I knew immediately I wanted to do it. And then the prospect of doing it terrified me.

What terrified you? Was it that the show had such a cult following?

BG – Partly, I respect the original. I am inspired by the original. But, it’s never about redoing it and pleasing the people who love the original. They love the original because of what it is. It was the scale of the task. It is such a mind-boggling concept. I knew I couldn’t just make a conventional drama built on conventional structures. I knew it had to be different.

Exactly what are Number Two's (Sir Ian McKellen) true motivations? Photo copyright of Granada/AMC

Talk about the character of Two and his backstory.

BG – In the original series, there was a series of Twos and he was The Village authority figure. what I was interested in was to stay with this man and to open up the battle between Six [Jim Caviezel] and Two [Sir Ian McKellen] and to get to know Two. Who is this man? What is his mission? What are his moral challenges? If he is a man with a vision, and that vision becomes The Village, then what are the costs to him? What happens when this man has a family? I was really interested in the character of Two and that couldn’t be achieved by replacing Two each week. His actions tell us who he is, but I was also interested in finding out why he does what he does, and what it has cost him.

How did you imagine the character of Six and his journey?

BG – Six begins from a premise that’s already given to me by the original series: there is a man cast into this strange place, he wants to escape, he rails against authority, and he’s determined to assert his own individuality. For me, it’s the man himself and his history. What if Six was a lonely man? What if he was a man who didn’t know how to form relationships? What if he was a man whose work separated him from the world? What are the challenges that are thrown to Six himself, in his own beliefs, in his own ideas, in his own failings? The series is a hero’s journey. That journey is an attempt to escape, an attempt to overcome the monster that is Two. But also, it’s a challenge to overcome the monster in himself.

The Prisoner debuts with two episodes on Sunday, November 15th @ 8 p.m. EST/PST and continues at the same time on Monday, the 16th and Tuesday, the 17th. Watch for more Q & As as well as cast interviews as the week goes on.

As noted above, all photos copyright of Granada TV and AMC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Sir Ian McKellen as Number Two in The Prisoner. Photo copyright of Granada TV/AMC

IN the 1960s British TV series The Prisoner, a character named simply Number Two was the overseer of The Village, a remote seaside community that welcomed new “residents” but rarely allowed anyone to leave – at least alive. When an ex-British Secret Service agent, Number Six (played by actor and series co-creator Patrick McGoohan), was brought to The Village against his will, Number Two was assigned the task of finding out the truth behind why Six resigned from his job.

Over the course of the show’s 17-episode run, no less than 17 actors and actresses portrayed Number Two, with Leo McKern appearing three times and Colin Gordon appearing twice. Some stories featured more than one Number Two, including It’s Your Funeral, in which two incarnations of the character played major roles in the episode, while images of two others were seen as well.

This Sunday, November 15th, AMC will air the first two episodes of its six-part miniseries remake of The Prisoner. Award-winning British stage, feature film and TV actor Sir Ian McKellen assumes the role of Number Two and, like his predecessors, is equally dogged when it comes to finding out Number Six’s (Jim Caviezel) true agenda. In the following AMC press Q & A, Sir Ian McKellen talks about the 2009 miniseries and his role in it.

Why did The Prisoner interest you?

Ian McKellen - This is the sort of thing I would enjoy watching myself and that is always the test. It also arrived at the right time – I wanted to work and, to top it all, it brought me to Cape Town. Now, it’s more intriguing than when I first read it. It’s a thriller and unlike the original series, this is much more about what Six wants to escape from and why he can’t escape. There are clues from the very first scene in the opening episode.

Who is Two?

IM - In the original series, Two was running The Village. More than that, he was played by a different actor for each episode, but this time there’s just me playing the part. Two appears to be in charge of The Village and he has the qualities of someone who might well be that. If you like The Village, you’d accept him as your leader and revere him, but if you don’t like The Village, you’d think he is a monster. I personally don’t think he’s creepy at all.

A pensive moment for Number Two. Photo copyright of Granada TV/AMC

What about Two’s family?

IM - It is no secret that Two has a family. He has a son in his late teens and he has a wife who’s comatose and with whom he is madly in love. So he has a wife who he can’t really talk to, and a son who doesn’t want to talk to him. He loves them both and it is his love for them both that sets the whole story rollicking along. Does he bring Six to The Village to take over from him or does it become his motive as the story goes on? You never know with The Village.

Why is The Prisoner so compelling?

IM - Once you get involved with something as good as this you find out things you didn’t know before. I read online about people who indulge in mutual dreaming. Sometimes the dreams are identical. I suppose Bill Gallagher [who wrote this re-imagined version of The Prisoner] knew that, and if he didn’t, is very perceptive to these things. What I like about The Prisoner are all the oddities, the strangeness and the peculiarities. Portmerion [the setting in which the original 60s Prisoner was shot] doesn’t look real. It’s a fantasy. Bill Gallagher’s Prisoner is set in a more believable place and one that clearly has a style to it. Swakopmund has the feel of a prison, with the mighty Atlantic Ocean on one side of the town and desert on the other side.

Are there similarities to the original?

IM - There are references back to the original and there are characters that appear in the original that appear in this. I don’t think it is any secret that Rover is back. In this, as opposed to the original, we discover where Rover comes from. Questions are answered. People who enjoyed the original might ask why have you cast an American and not an Englishman in the central role? It all will be answered. The Prisoner is being re-imagined by a group of people who are fans of the original.

Two shares a family moment with his son, 11-12 (Jamie Campbell Bower) and wife, M2 (Rachael Blake). Photo copyright of Granada TV/AMC

What do you think The Prisoner is about?

IM - It is about relationships in the context of things which preoccupy us. It is about the nature of government today, about the state of mental health, about conspiracy theories. It is a thriller because exciting things happen, and if you are interested to know why they happen  you would want to watch the next episode. The story plays with current observations just like the original did.

The Prisoner debuts with two episodes on Sunday, November 15th @ 8 p.m. EST/PST and continues at the same time on Monday, the 16th and Tuesday, the 17th. Watch for more Q & As as well as cast interviews as the week goes on.

As noted above, all photos copyright of Granada TV and AMC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Number Six (Jim Caviezel) finds himself a long way from home in The Prisoner. Photo copyright of Granada/AMC

“I am not a number, I am a free man!” That was the battle cry of the title character in the 1967 – 1968 British spy drama/science fiction TV series The Prisoner. Starring and co-created by actor Patrick McGoohan, the show tells the story of a British Secret Service Agent who, after resigning, is kidnapped and taken to a secluded (and inescapable) seaside locale called “The Village,”  where his abductors use all manner of psychological techniques to try to figure out exactly why he resigned. This Sunday (November 15th), AMC begins airing a three-part re-imagined version of The Prisoner starring Jim Caviezel (The Passion of Christ, Final Cut) in the title role. The following is an AMC Q &A with the actor, who talks about his involvement in the project.

What was the appeal of the role of Six and the series in general?

Jim Caviezel - The challenge for me was taking on an iconic role in a series of such cult status and making it my own. It is a hugely ambitious TV project. It is surreal, complex and challenging for the audience.

How would you describe your character?

JC - Six is stubborn, persistent, curious and clever. He is always looking for answers, refuses to conform and never gives up hope. Six is constantly looking for a way out of The Village – either physically or psychologically. In each episode, he tries to escape by different means.

Does it make it harder or easier playing an iconic lead? How do the Sixes in the original Prisoner and this new version differ?

JC - Although it would be foolish not to recognize the original character created by Patrick McGoohan, the Six I play is very much a contemporary man dealing with issues that affect us now. He does have some similar characteristics with the original Six, like his defiant nature and his complex antagonistic relationship with Two [Sir Ian McKellen]. But we learn more about his life before The Village. We also see him building strong relationships with other Villagers through the six episodes.

Number Two (Ian McKellen) is determined to extract the truth from Number Six. Photo copyright of Granada/AMC

Were you a fan of the original series of The Prisoner?

JC - I purposely decided not to view the original series. I wanted to find my own interpretation for the role without being influenced by what had been done before.

How do you eel about shooting a remake? Do you think it will inevitably invite comparison with the original and, more specifically, invite comparisons between your portrayal of Number Six and Patrick McGoohan’s?

JC - Yes, it is inevitable that comparisons will be made, but our series is more a reinvention than a remake. It looks at the situation with a fresh eye, and deals with issues that affect us now, and the character is very contemporary. The creative team is keen to remain faithful to the spirit of the original, but both the structure and the character have been reworked. Hopefully, audiences will be able to enjoy it as a separate piece of contemporary television.

What was it like filming with Sir Ian McKellen?

JC - He is a superb actor and we had enormous fun playing adversaries.

What did you think of Namibia?

JC -The space, the desert and the dunes are awesome. The town of Swakopmund is a strange and interesting place – an authentic German town in the desert of Africa.

Six appears to have made a friend in 313 (Ruth Wilson). Photo copyright of Granada/AMC

The Prisoner debuts with two episodes on Sunday, November 15th @ 8 p.m. EST/PST and continues at the same time on Monday, the 16th and Tuesday, the 17th. Watch for more Q & As as well as cast interviews as the week goes on.

As noted above, all photos copyright of Granada TV and AMC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Ok, a little departure from the usual poopy diaper/morning sickness blogs.

It is indeed that time of year again – college basketball season.  Indiana kicked off the season with Hoosier Hysteria on Friday – the start of practice.    Of course I am compelled to opine for a few paragraphs on the topic, because I am a bona fide Indiana Basketball NUT.   Thank you in advance for humoring me.

From the time I can remember I have been an Indiana Basketball fan.    I have memories of watching IU basketball on a black and white television in the old house on Brushy Fork Road, and of dad popping popcorn for us kids.   We huddled around the TV, watching basketball history in the making.   Mom would sometimes join us, but I think maybe she saw this as her chance to relax and catch a break from the craziness of raising us four boys.   She would usually join us for the Kentucky game, though she knew better than to cheer for the Wildcats.

I remember the cleaning lady commercial before the games.  She’d come on before every game, and I’d be glued to the TV as she sauntered onto camera and belted out the IU Fight Song   (Below.. and this seriously almost makes me cry.    Mom, turn the volume up on your laptop).

I remember IU winning the championship in 1987, and dad doing a somersault off of the couch when Keith Smart’s shot won the game (See below.. and this still gets me all kinds of choked up).

We watched SOOOOOO many games…  but I loved it, and still do.    It was so much fun hanging out with Dad and my brothers, watching the likes of Uwe Blab, Steve Alford, and Dean Garrett play.  In later years we watch Jay Edwards, Eric Anderson, and Matt Nover.    Calbert Cheaney (who I’ve met twice – once while in high school, and again during a chance encounter at the Shoe Carnival), Damon Bailey and A.J. Guyton.    When I was in the Navy (and before Al Gore invented the internet) Dad would send me the newspaper clippings from the sport’s page for most games, and an IU calendar every year.  In 1995, a Big Ten touring team actually played at my base in Japan and I got to see and meet IU player Andrae Patterson.    This was sort of a big deal to me, because though I was a huge fan, I’d never made it to Bloomington for a game.  I’ve since made it to Assembly Hall, and yes – it is indeed the Mecca I imagined.

So yes, Dad is the reason I am such a nutty IU fan.   I think my dad started following IU basketball because his brother Lowell – known to us family as “Hot” – ran track for IU back in the 1950s (he had the 2nd fasted time in the world in the 1500 meters in 1954… no joke).   So there is some IU connection there.   Dad also played basketball in high school, and could likely still sink a dozen free throws in a row in the driveway and slide past you for a lay-up….   He’s old, but he’s sneaky.

Indiana has been in transition for the past 10 years since Bobby Knight was fired.    It has not been an easy time to be an IU fan, that is for sure.   Yes, they made it to the championship game in 2002, but that was not the norm for these years since “The General” was removed.   It has been frustrating and painful.

But alas, times are changing in Bloomington.    Indiana is trying to shed the bad feelings and demons of the past 10 years, and under 2nd year coach Tom Crean they look to be on the path to recovering.   Last season was cathartic.   It was a cleansing of the palate for so many of us Indiana fans.   A record of 6-24.    It is safe to say that IU basketball is clawing its way back with a top 10 recruiting class and an avalanche of support.   This will definitely be an improved team.

Over the years Dad and I have been through the good and the bad with this damn team.   Our conversations usually turn to IU basketball, especially this time of year.  One thing is certain though – Dad and I will watch some IU basketball games.   Nowadays I can even convince Jessica to don the Cream and Crimson on game days.   I think it is infectious.   So much of my love for IU is tied to family, and I hope that continues through Rowan, and the family we are building.  I definitely hope so.   And thanks Dad, for making me a basketball nut every year when fall rolls around.

(Mom, you can turn the volume down now.)

November 16, 2000

While in quick transit from the VIP backstage area to the main room of the Muhammad Ali fundraiser (slash) awesome party, I saw Robert Wagner. He was the only person in the hall that wasn’t headed towards the festivities. Rather, he was standing alone, tall and fancy in his tux with no real expression on his face (as if he was waiting for his date to return from the baño). Hummm…. Robert Wagner…? Let’s see. I can’t name any of his movies pre-Austin Powers (in which he did a fabulous job as implied potty humor). And I really only remember watching him on TV (while eating dinner in my yellow bean bag) in Hart to Hart. (1970s baby!!!!!!!) But he’s a celebrity so he counts. I stopped by for a quicky. “Um, hello. Can you take my picture?” (In a nutshell.) Click. And we’re out. Thank you, NEXT! Just 100 seconds. A brief interaction that neither of us would remember if it wasn’t for this imperishable testimony.

photo credit: Robert Wagner     © 2000 Rebecca Costell

]]> http://zellersfamily.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/pumpkin-patch-kids/ Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:43:39 +0000 DaddyZ http://zellersfamily.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/pumpkin-patch-kids/

We had a fun weekend enjoying the fall weather and getting out and about.  On Saturday, we went to Mayse Farm Market with the Cirino family.   After a few days of rain it made the farm quite muddy, but that didn’t prevent Rowan and Luca from stomping around and making the most of it.   

We took a hay ride, and bought some great fruit, homemade breads, and sorgum.   Rowan had fun touching all of the fruit, squash, and pumpkins.   He’s getting tall enough to reach up into the displays, and he is making the most of the growth spurt.   At one point he picked up a squash and chucked it about four feet over his head like a ball… luckily (and somehow) it did not bust!  It is so fun to see him run around investigating his surroundings.   He is definitely into everything right now.           

We planned on going to the Fall Festival after the farm trip, but Rowan wasn’t up for it after a long day without much of a nap.   We stopped at the Burger Bank on the way home and got Texas Tenderloins and corn dogs to at least enjoy some similar foods.

Yesterday we went to a 1st birthday party for Rowan’s buddy Miles.   He’s the son of our friends Chris and Carrie.    Rowan (of course) took the liberty of helping Miles unwrap his gifts, and showed him how to use them.   It was a fun afternoon with friends!   

Probably the biggest news from this weekend is that the name we’d chosen for #2 is not “the one.”     So, back to the drawing board we went… and with a vengeance.     

Jessica picked up a few name books from the library on Friday and we scoured them on Friday night.    We wrote down the contenders (about five first names total) and revisted the list on Saturday.  All weekend long I was asking Jessica, “What’s her name?  Little girl?  What’s her name….”   To which she’d reply “LEAVE ME ALONE!”

By Sunday morning there were only two.   Well, there were still variations of the two names we were exploring, but there were two “core” names.   After a long weekend of deliberation and “test drives” we’ve got it right.    It really is a big deal, and we pored over thousands of names before making the choice.  It is the perfect name for her, and I can already hear myself saying ”____, you are beautiful…” on the day she’s born.    

I assure you, the name is simple yet classy.  It’s not a super cutesie (Kylie, Mackenzie) and not overly stuffy (Mildred, Thelma).    It’s not way out there (Pilot Inspecktor) and not super popular (Emma, Emily).   I think everyone will agree that the name is perfect for our little girl.   

AND we’re still not telling…

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Did the First Dog Leave a Number Two on Air Force One?

The mystery begins in a Pittsburgh bar where several high-flying airline types met last month.

The group swapped stories over drinks when three people present let loose with a good tale. Bo, the presidential puppy, recently left a present on the presidential jet, they said, and a flight attendant had nearly stepped in it.

“You can imagine the horror on board when they discovered what it had done,” a participant in the conversation said, referring to Bo.

Reports of other puppy-like behavior support the story. At least two reporters spotted Bo running loose aboard Air Force One this summer. News stories say he chews socks, magazines and the presidential sneakers. In an NBC television interview around the time of the alleged accident, President Barack Obama said Bo has chosen notable venues in the past.

“We go out and we’re walking and I’m picking up poop, and in the background is the beautifully lit White House,” the president said. “It’s quite a moment.”

A White House press official was certain—the scoop on the poop was a crock. The press office checked with the Air Force One flight crew who said Bo had not desecrated the jet.

. . .

But we were nagged by a question—was the pile denial a White House cover up?

The source of the story refused to recant. A press officer for the 89th Airlift Wing, which includes Air Force One, had no comment. A government airline carpet contractor didn’t return calls.

Then a new source emerged: Herb McConnell, former public affairs officer for Andrews Air Force Base, home of Air Force One. McConnell thought the story was “funny,” “logical,” and “not as bad as some I’ve heard.”

According to McConnell, he checked with two contacts in the 89th Airlift Wing. Both separately confirmed Bo’s youthful indiscretion, although neither of them would speak directly with Washington Wire.

“Of course the dog accident on Air Force One happened,” McConnell contends. But the 89th won’t go public with it, he said, because it is strict Air Force policy not to discuss passengers’ activities.

The White House stands by its denial. And Bo isn’t talking.

See also:
A No. 2 on Air Force One? Oh noes Bo!
Everybody Poops: White House Denies Bo’s Mile-High Mistake
Bo Obama: Number Two On Air Force

Oh sure, blame the dog. If it was a simple puppy “poop accident”, why is the White House stonewalling?

/you know, it’s not like there weren’t plenty of other potential suspects on the plane at the time

Photo By Aunt Amanda

This morning when I was strapping Rowan in the truck I gave him some kisses while he was a “captive” audience and unable to get away.   We played for a minute, him laughing and smiling while I gave him little monster kisses.    I talked to him, asking if he had a big day planned with Mason, Brandie, Olivia, and the rest of his babysitter friends.   He looked at me and just smiled.   As I said Mason’s name he turned to face me and tried to say his name back to me.   Two syllables, very definitely trying to get him mouth to form the right sounds, and not just baby babble.   I repeated it, and clapped and gave him more kisses when he got it right.  He was in a playful and interactive mood, so I tried to encourage him to say the names of his body parts.   I tried nose with no success.   I said TOES!   And he grabbed his little feet…   smart kid, this one.  But, no words.     He then looked at me, pointed at his eye, and said “AAAAAYYYYEEEEE!”    So of course I pointed to my eye and said it back to him.    Since when was HE running the show???  

Unfortunately, time was short and we had to head off to work.   It was time for mommy to take him to the babysitter’s for the day, and I jumped in my car and rolled out.  

Jessica called me a few minutes later and said the Rowan was very upset when she dropped him off, and was clearly not wanting her to leave.    It was very tough on Jess, as Rowan usually heads off to play with the other kiddos and doesn’t give Jess or myself a second glance.   He’s very independent like that, and doesn’t show any separation anxiety.   Today he let Jess know he was going to miss her, and it really touched her.  

Sometimes Jess and I both crave some time away to recharge the batteries, but we both hate to  be away from each other and our family.   I definitely feel most complete and contented when the three of us are together, and I know she does too.   

So, leaving this AM was particularly tough on both Jess and I.    I’ve been with Rowan a total of maybe two hours in the past few days because of class and work commitments.  I was sad that I didn’t have a few more minutes this morning to hang out with my wife and son.   I really miss them a lot during stretches like this, and while we are booked solid this weekend with a giant list of things we have to do to get the house ready and on the market, I will be making time to spend with them. 

That is the first thing on my list… underlined, in bold.

I have been encouraging Jess to get on here and give an update on the pregnancy.    Everyone needs to message her and tell her to get on here and do it!

At a Cardinals game a few weeks ago

Long week… that is the short story!

This weekend will be fun though and we’ll have an opportunity to recharge the batteries a bit.    We have nothing planned tonight, although I think Jessica’s sister Amanda is coming over to hang with the cool kids (us).    Tomorrow is my God-Daughter Riley’s birthday party.     This should be fun, as there will likely be an army of kids under the age of 4 in attendance.   Rowan will have a good time playing with his cousins, that I can guarantee!    

Grammy and PAwPaw will be down either Saturday night or Sunday to deliver the “Blue Cow”.  The Blue Cow is a sectional couch of a fine navy blue, and contains no less than 5 recliners.    We are replacing our old funky sectional.. this will be a definite upgrade!    We also look forward to having the Boyles with us for a few days!  (Have a safe trip!)

I have sort of joined a band.  No, not a band of gypsies, but a band of the musical persuation.    My friend Chris and I have always “talked” about getting together to play, but we hadn’t actually done that.    He is involved with the young adult ministry at Holy Rosary, and they are doing a spaghetti dinner fundraiser in September to send some kids to the National Catholic Youth Conference in Kansas City later in the year.    Afterwards, they are doing a concert.  We (Me, Chris, and two other guys) are learning some songs to play at the event.   So far it has been a lot of fun, and I have enjoyed picking up the guitar again.    We are learning between 5 and 10 songs, so I have my work cut out for me to learn them in time.     We will be playing praise/worship music, but nothing too “Kumbaya”.    It’ll be plenty loud, with a good mix of contemporary and traditional music.   Maybe we’ll keep playing after the fundraiser…..

My mission this weekend is to snap a ton of pictures.    I was looking through the albums on my laptop and the number of pictures have dropped off significantly in the past months.    I will try and catch up!

Jessica is feeling a bit better, and is glowing again…

Have a good weekend!

udah dua hari ini, denny tidur malam gak pakai lampin lagi. dan sukses gak ngompol. tapi untuk jaga-jaga tetap dikasih perlak.

trus juga, kalau lagi gak pakai popok dan mau pup, denny udah bisa bilang, trus ketika diajak ke kamar mandi tinggal jongkok di wc jongkok.
belum dicoba untuk wc duduk, soalnya belum punya dudukan khusus balita.

Enter the realm of Issue #2!

Also, the Poptropica Help Blog’s ”Poptropica Poll” has been updated! Our latest question reads, ”Reality TV Island is coming this summer! I’m most excited about:” followed by some cool answers, so take your time voting!

June 2009’s poll question was, ”How many credits do you own (on a single/main Poptropica account)?” Here are the results:

Option | Votes | Percentage
None, I spent them all. | 519 | 22%
25 – 75 | 443 | 19%
100 – 475 | 653 | 28%
500 – 575 | 118 | 5%
600 – 775 | 121 | 5%
800 – 975 | 187 | 8%
1000+ | 301 | 13%

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You can now rate any of the PHB’s posts or pages with awesome blue stars! At the bottom of every post and page, you’ll find 5 stars with a ”Rate This” sign next to them. (Note: For posts, you have to click on it to actually see the rating section, because it doesn’t show on the homepage.) To rate our pages/posts, simply hover your cursor over the stars and select how many you’d like to rate us (out of a possible 5). One is the worst; five is the best; and you can see what each number of stars stand for when you hover over that amount. Here’s the list:

• One star = Very Poor
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Once you’ve decided how well we’ve written a post or page, click on the stars to submit your rating. A ”Thank You” will appear for a brief moment, then it will show you the average rating of the post/page from everyone who has ever rated there. Next to it, it will show you how many people have rated the post/page. If you try to rate again, but with a different star level, it will be saved over your first one. If you try to rate again, but with the same star level, it will not add one more to the number of votes.

So, please send us your valued feedback!

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ThePHF.com ID Card Generator is now available!
Users of our Poptropica Help Forum (http://thephf.com/) can now use the brand-new PHF ID Card Generator created by forum admin and founder Motionman95. If you’re in need of a signature for your forum account, download the Generator to create one!

For more information, visit: http://poptropicaforums.co.cc/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=240

Screenshot of the ID Generator

Remember, you can edit your forum signature by going to the User Control Panel (click on the link on the top-left of the forum’s webpage), under the Profiles section. You’ll also need to use the [idCard] [/idCard] tags! (Also, Moderators who wish to use this sig should contact Motionman95 for instructions to making the ”Rank” part say Forum Moderator.)

And if you haven’t already, make sure you sign up for the Poptropica Help Forum, where you can hang out with lots of awesome Poptropicans and have tons of fun chatting!